1966 Special

[BaldMenace]

I've been working on a 66 Special for a while now and the plan has been a turbocharged 300 V8. I've built my turbo headers and bought a ton of parts. 215/215 roller cam and lifters, rollmaster timing set, oil pan, SFI balancer and flex plate. Complete Megasquirt MS3pro engine management system etc. Problem is waiting on custom pistons and TA Performance Rover heads. I decided I'd like to drive the car rather than have it sitting on jackstands for a couple more years. So I'm going to drop a built 4.1 in it for now. I just bought an engine that should be a little bit of fun.
JE pistons 3.830
RPM 3.625 forged crank
Molnar 6.350 rods
Two billet center caps
Ported iron heads by Duttwiler
Ported intake w/ egr blocked
Roller 210/212 cam
T&D 1.60 roller rockers
Champion valve covers
ARP hardware throughout

I've got a brand new 8.5 w/ Trutrac and 3.42 gears. A brand new well built switch pitch th400 with 12" converter and a new Garrett GBC 37-900 turbocharger with .82 AR turbine housing.

 

[BaldMenace]

This is the Turbo I'm using. According to the Garrett site it should suit that V6 well.

 

[Tim_D]

I think I'm going to like this!

 

[BaldMenace]

The outside of the car has been purposely left old and weathered. It's literally a 100% no rust car that has been treated to an accidental frame off build. Here's a short video clip of the underside before I yanked the 455 out to go with a turbo engine.

 

[Scott Atk]

Looking forward to following your build. Need more action in the HYBRID section

 

[BaldMenace]

I am picking the engine up tomorrow and will most likely buy the ATR headers he offered me as well. One of the first things I'm going to do it see what clutter I can eliminate from the intake since I have no need for any of the emissions stuff. Since this engine is going in an old car it will absolutely get painted either Buick red or the earlier turquoise color

 

[Mr.Spool]

That's a cool build.
My parents had the special with the wildcat engine
They loved racing it.

 

[BaldMenace]

Picked up the engine today and ended up bs'ing with the guy for a couple hours before heading back home. Once home I started checking the engine out and confirming the build specs. Does have ported 8445 heads, ported stock intake with performance plate and 70 mm tb. 1.65 roller rockers and a hydraulic roller cam . The engine is internally balanced. Looking at this tiny engine it's hard to believe the power they are capable of.

 

[Mr.Spool]

Boost is power
Just make sure you fed it octane and fuel

 

[BaldMenace]

Finally completed the disassembly and inspection to verify what components the engine was built with. Looks like good quality parts and it is in good shape. I'm thinking with a good safe tune it should handle 550-600 HP ok.

 

[BaldMenace]

RPM racing intercooler assy arrived yesterday. Nice quality parts

 

[V6sleeper]

Love the car and swap. following.

 

[BaldMenace]

Headers arrived today. What's the best way to seal the crossover slip joint?

 

[V6sleeper]

You definitely are not cheapen out on this build...Bravo

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Headers arrived today. What's the best way to seal the crossover slip joint?

I'd use a ss wraparound clamp. That way you can still get it apart, later.

 

[BaldMenace]

It looks like I'm going to be trimming the bottom of my freshly rechromed front bumper for intercooler piping clearance. At least it for a quality made in USA intercooler instead of one made by Hung Chang Wee in China

 

[BaldMenace]

I take that last post back. I'm not gonna cut that bumper. Hopefully I can get a stretched SLIC to fit instead.

 

[Tim_D]

I take that last post back. I'm not gonna cut that bumper. Hopefully I can get a stretched SLIC to fit instead.

Let me know if you end up going to a standard SLIC. I modified a scoop for the stocker that fits perfectly in the early A-Bodies, sits higher up and is wider. I'm not using it.

 

[TType85]

Headers arrived today. What's the best way to seal the crossover slip joint?

It is a double slip joint; I didn't use anything and once it got some heat in it there was no leak.

 

[BaldMenace]

I'm back to this project. I got a little discouraged when I found my new engine was in need of some corrections due to a poor builder but I'm over that and back on track.